IMF highlights El Salvador's 'extraordinary' economic achievements

El Salvador's economic achievements have drawn praise from the International Monetary Fund (IMF). Dan Katz, the IMF's First Deputy Managing Director, highlighted the country's "extraordinary economic achievements" in a social media post shared by President Nayib Bukele.

Katz indicated that progress is being made to finalize the next IMF program reviews and expressed his hope for a future visit to San Salvador. El Salvador and the IMF agreed in December 2024 on a $1.4 billion loan aimed at bolstering fiscal and external sustainability through an ambitious, growth-friendly fiscal consolidation plan and measures to strengthen reserves.

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extraordinary economic achievements of El Salvador

The IMF noted in June 2025 that the program's performance was solid, with the economy continuing to grow while macroeconomic imbalances were being corrected. Recent data from the Central Reserve Bank shows El Salvador's GDP grew by 4.79% in the first quarter of 2026, driven by construction and mining. The World Bank projects El Salvador's economy to grow 3.9% in 2025, with forecasts of 3.2% in 2026 and 3% in 2027.

Since President Bukele began his second consecutive term in June 2024, economic concerns have reportedly surpassed violence as the primary worry for Salvadorans, according to surveys. A study by the Jesuit University's Institute of Public Opinion Research indicates that 70.7% of the population now views the economic situation as the country's main problem.

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We are making good progress toward completing the next IMF reviews. I hope to visit San Salvador soon